KARACHI: Medical experts have reiterated the need to immunize children between nine months and 15 years against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) as well as polio, says a press release.
This was stated at an awareness session organised by the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) for caregivers about the current immunization campaign against measles and rubella on Thursday.
Dr Rahat Naz, director continuing medical education, organized the session as part of the campaign which the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) is actively involved in.
The guest speaker for the session, Dr Khalid Shafi, secretary-general of PPA and associate professor at Department of Community Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, said that the Sindh government’s campaign aims to reach out to every child aged between nine months and 15 years across the province for MMR and polio drops to children aged between 0-5 years.
Dr Shafi explained to the participants that all children including those who have been immunized before, must also be immunized during this campaign. He asked them to assure the parents about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
“In 2019, Sindh reported 147 polio cases, 84 in 2020, and so far only 1 case has been reported in Sindh. This is the nearest Sindh has ever reached in eradicating polio,” said the official.
According to PPA, 67,000 outreach vaccination teams will vaccinate children at under-served and high-risk populated areas and set vaccination centres in communities, madressahs and schools to reach its target.
Dr Rahat Naz thanked JSMU acting Vice Chancellor Professor Shahid Rasul and registrar Dr Azam Khan for their full support in combating the fatal diseases and assured the PPA of JSMU’s full cooperation.